Officially CCP could not comment on the underlying game engine for DUST 514, other than to say that they would be using a tried and tested third party platform for their console release.  However, in his Dominion presentation, CCP's Torfi Frans Olafsson did let slip that artists and programmers working on the EVE client were using the same shader models as the developers for DUST 514 who are using the Unreal Engine.

For us here at DUST514.org this is welcome news, as over the years there have been some very cool games released using this engine such as: Gears of War, Bioshock, Batman: Arkham Asylum, Splinter Cell, Mass Effect and of course the Unreal Series itself.

It should also be welcome news for everyone who is hoping for a PC release as the current engine (Unreal Engine 3) was designed for DirectX9/10 PCs, the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3.  This should mean that even though as far as we know, DUST 514 will initially only be a console only release. The hopes for a PC port after release remain alive.

For those interested in looking at the source of this information yourself, check out this video at around 1:10-1:50 in.

The planets of eve seen here in this footage will be visible from the DUST 514 Command Pit